HUNDREDS of people, including many from the French community, have attended a service in Edinburgh to remember the victims of the Paris terror attacks .

The congregation at St Giles Cathedral, including Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Emmanuel Cocher, the consul general of France, observed a minute's silence as they came together in solidarity.

The service was held as the First Minister chaired the Scottish Government's second resilience meeting to discuss the response to the gun and bomb attacks which killed at least 129 people in the French capital on Friday night.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney (left) and Emmanuel Cocher, the Consul General of France attended the service

Mr Swinney described the service as a "solemn moment for us to reflect and remember the tragedy that took place on Friday, and to remember the suffering that is endured by so many people across the world".

Many of those attending were young French people studying in Scotland.

"What I want to say to people from France who are with us in Scotland is that our hearts are breaking for them," Mr Swinney said.

"They have endured tremendous suffering, and we want to express, as we have done very clearly since Friday evening, our strongest solidarity with the people of France at their time in need, and particularly for the people from the French community here in Scotland - part of our country, part of our society and very much part of our lives."

Flowers outside St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, (Image: PA)

St Giles minister Rev Calum MacLeod led the service which included prayers for those affected by the tragedy.

He said: "We gather as a community to support each other, to worship God, feeling numb and shocked by the terrible events that happened last week, the terror acts in Beirut, and then in Paris on Friday.

"Friends, let us stand in solidarity this day with the people of France and all those who reject violent extremism and seek constructive peace."